Systems and methods for joint replacement

Abstract

Systems and methods for joint replacement are provided. The systems and methods include a surgical orientation device, a reference sensor device, and at least one orthopedic fixture. The surgical orientation device, reference sensor device, and orthopedic fixtures can be used to locate the orientation of an axis in the body, to adjust an orientation of a cutting plane or planes along a bony surface, or otherwise to assist in an orthopedic procedure(s).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for orthopedic surgery, comprising:
 an orthopedic fixture configured to couple to a bone of a patient, wherein the orthopedic fixture comprises a first interface and a second interface, 
 a first orientation device configured to couple to the first interface, wherein the first orientation device comprises one or more sensors configured to sense changes in acceleration and/or gyroscopic positioning; 
 a second orientation device configured to couple to the second interface, wherein the second orientation device comprises one or more sensors configured to sense changes in acceleration and/or gyroscopic positioning; and 
 wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device is configured to communicate changes in acceleration and/or gyroscopic positioning of the at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device to the other of the first orientation device and the second orientation device. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device is configured to locate a portion of a mechanical axis. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device is configured to calculate a center of rotation. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first portion of the orthopedic fixture comprising the first interface is configured to be fixed relative to the bone. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a second portion of the orthopedic fixture comprising the second interface is capable of movement relative to the bone. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device comprises at least one structure for facilitating releasable attachment to the orthopedic fixture. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a display is visible to a user when the first orientation device and the second orientation device are coupled to the orthopedic fixture. 
     
     
       8. A system for orthopedic surgery, comprising:
 an orthopedic fixture comprises a first interface and a second interface, wherein the second interface is movable relative to the first interface; 
 a first orientation device configured to couple to the first interface, wherein the first orientation device is configured to sense changes relative to one or more reference points, lines, planes, and/or gravitational zero; 
 a second orientation device configured to couple to the second interface, wherein the second orientation device is configured to sense changes relative to one or more reference points, lines, planes, and/or gravitational zero; and 
 wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device is configured to communicate changes relative to one or more reference points, lines, planes, and/or gravitational zero of the at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device to the other of the first orientation device and the second orientation device. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device comprises a display. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device is configured to calculate a point on a mechanical axis. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a probe for referencing a point. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first interface is configured to enable low profile mounting of the first orientation device. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein a cutting guide is configured to couple to the orthopedic fixture. 
     
     
       14. A system for orthopedic surgery, comprising:
 an orthopedic fixture configured to couple to a bone of a patient, wherein the orthopedic fixture comprises a first interface and a second interface, 
 a first orientation device configured to couple to the first interface, wherein the first orientation device is configured sense angular changes of the first orientation device; 
 a second orientation device configured to couple to the second interface, wherein the second orientation device is configured sense angular changes of the second orientation device; 
 wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device is configured to communicate angular changes of the at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device to the other of the first orientation device and the second orientation device. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a display configured facilitate orienting a cutting guide relative to a mechanical axis. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a display configured to indicate angular displacement in an anterior-posterior plane. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a display configured to indicate angular displacement in a medial-lateral plane. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device comprises an inertial sensor. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a landmark contacting probe. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first orientation device and the second orientation device is configured to calculate a point on a mechanical axis.